The Minister Of Communication And Information Asks For Azan Notifications Through Running Text During The Grand Mass Not To Be Made A Polemic

Minister Of Communication And Information Budi Arie Setiadi/DOK ANTARA

Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi asked for notification of the Maghrib call to prayer time through running text during Pope Francis' Grand Mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK), Jakarta, tomorrow will not be used as a polemic.

Budi explained that this was an appeal based on a request from the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) only for Maghrib's call to show on television stations.

"Regarding the call to prayer, Kominfo is following up on a letter from the Directorate General of Islamic Guidance and Catholic Guidance at the Ministry of Religion. So those who wrote to us. We only follow up on it, and that is in the form of an appeal. Because the words we write are possible. So it doesn't have to be, that's it," explained Budi Arie, Wednesday, September 4.

"I think hopefully this explanation will not cause a prolonged polemic," he concluded.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) emphasized that the request letter to the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) was only for azan Maghrib broadcast on television stations. Meanwhile, the call to prayer at mosques and prayer rooms remains reverberating.

"So the substance is that the notification of Maghrib's time on TV is delivered with a matching text. Meanwhile, the call of call to prayer at the mosque and prayer room is still welcome," said Ministry of Religion spokesman Sunanto in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 4, quoted by Antara.

Previously, the Ministry of Religion had written to Kominfo regarding the broadcasting of the Maghrib Azan and Mass Akbar with Pope Francis.

The letter, which was signed by the Director General of Islamic Guidance Kamaruddin Amin and the Director General of Bimas Catholic Suparman, was a response to a letter submitted by the Arrival Committee of Pope Francis.

The Ministry of Religion's letter to Kominfo is a request and contains two substances. First, suggestions for mass with Pope Francis on September 5, 2024, to be broadcast live at 17.00-19.00 WIB on all national television.

Second, so that the marker of Maghrib's time is shown in the form of a matching text so that mass can be followed in its entirety by Catholics in Indonesia.